9 Things Every Outdoor Kitchen Needs
The steaks are sizzling, the potatoes are nearly done, and the veggies have all been chopped. The best part of your upcoming feast? Your cooking isn’t confined to the indoors!
Yes, life is good when you can whip up your favorite meals in the comfort of your backyard. But not all outdoor kitchens are created equal! Some focus on assembling the ultimate outdoor grill area, while others focus on creating more of an inviting, happy hour ambiance for friends and family.
No matter what culinary aesthetic you’re trying to design with your backyard kitchen, certain accessories, furnishings, and arrangements can accentuate the appearance, functionality, and comfort of any outdoor living space.
So to take your backyard dining experience to the next level: Here are nine things every outdoor kitchen needs!
1. Bring Home the Basics
Before you start installing plasma TVs and tiki bars near your outdoor kitchen space, it’s important to start with the basics of designing a kitchen that truly has everything you need to cook a good meal.
Aside from your actual grill (which we’ll leave up to you), let’s break down all the essential outdoor kitchen accessories, appliances, and gear you need for a superior grilling experience:
The more you check off this checklist of outdoor kitchen essentials, the less time you’ll spend outside of it!
2. Next-Level Cooking
Certainly, one outdoor grill is enough for a sufficient evening of cooking. But if you want an outdoor kitchen built for all culinary aspirations, plenty of backyard kitchen appliances will take your grilling experience up a notch!
Consider these outdoor kitchen accessories and appliances for next-level cooking:
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Griddle
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Power burners
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Woodfire oven
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Pizza oven
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BBQ Smoker
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Kamado grill
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Sear burner
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Rotisserie kit
3. Superior Storage Options
Perhaps the most overlooked element of a perfect outdoor kitchen setup is having a plethora of storage options available for everything from plates, silverware, glassware, accessories, condiments, etc.
Giving yourself accessible, convenient access to grabbing all your essential cooking items and materials will only work toward making your outdoor cooking and dining experience as pleasant as possible.
Be sure to equip your outdoor kitchen with at least a few of these superior storage options:
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Stainless steel cabinets, drawers, and access doors
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Dry storage pantries
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Warming drawers
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Paper towel holders
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Retractable trash and recycling bins
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Spice and ingredient racks
4. Beverage Station
To build the ultimate outdoor kitchen experience, we’re going to need a decent cocktail or glass of wine now and then, won’t we?
If you’re trying to be the grillmaster AND resident mixologist, here’s what you need to accompany your outdoor kitchen with the perfect beverage station:
5. Dining Arrangements
It’s one thing to cook comfortably outside, but it’s a whole other experience to dine comfortably outside!
Unless you’re planning on keeping your outdoor kitchen experience limited to yourself, here are the essential dining arrangements, furnishings, and accessories you need to entertain your esteemed guests for many years to come:
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Patio dining sets
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Outdoor lounge chairs or sofas
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Countertop bar stools
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Patio umbrellas or canopies
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Outdoor dining serveware
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Stone planters or floral arrangements
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String lights or landscaping lighting
6. Heating & Cooling Options
The tricky part about cooking and dining outside? You can pretty much control everything but the weather! That’s where installing heating or cooling accessories and appliances come in handy, giving you more options to create a comforting culinary environment that limits sweating or shivering all year round.
A few heating and cooling accessories to consider include:
7. Advanced Kitchen Accessories
Part of what adds to the excitement of assembling the ultimate outdoor kitchen arrangement is picking and choosing between all the latest innovations in culinary technology. Such advancements in kitchen and dining accessories not only simplify your cooking experience but will also be sure to dazzle your guests and inspire them to add such equipment to their own kitchen setups.
Here are a few of the latest innovations in outdoor kitchen accessories:
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Drink cooler patio tables (tables that store ice and keep your beverages cool)
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Countertop ice makers
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Mobile prep station tables
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Smart meat thermometer technology
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Advanced food processor or blender
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Oil dispenser kits
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Double-rotating waffle makers
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Air fryers
8. Emphasize Entertainment
After dinner has been served and the drinks have been poured, what better way to keep your guests in their outdoor seats than installing your own outdoor entertainment setup? The possibilities are practically endless when you consider all the ways you can transform your outdoor kitchen space into the ultimate entertainment center.
Whethe you’re hosting friends for the big game or prefer to accompany your meals with your favorite tunes, here are just a few suggestions for emphasizing entertainment:
9. Luscious Landscaping Surroundings
Have you ever dined out on the patio of a fancy restaurant amidst awe-inspiring scenery? It literally makes your food taste better!
If you’re looking to give your outdoor kitchen setup the five-star dining treatment, investing in some luxury landscaping will elevate your backyard dining arrangement into an enchanting evening of scrumptious courses.
Here are a few options you can consider when it comes to adding some luscious scenery to your outdoor kitchen experience:
Create Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen Arrangement With MH3!
At MH3 Design Group, we have one rule when it comes to building beautiful outdoor kitchens and bars: If you can dream it, we can build it!
If you’re ready to bring your backyard dreams to life, contact MH3 Design Group today to get started on your next renovation project.